Dickinson College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Dickinson College is a private institution located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Dickinson College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 42%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1380. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $37,607 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Dickinson College?

74% of enrolled students at Dickinson College had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Dickinson College weight in admissions?

Dickinson College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Dickinson College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–720. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Dickinson College actually cost?

Published tuition is $65,650 for in-state students and $65,650 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,100 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $37,607 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 13% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Dickinson College

Will my child graduate from Dickinson College?

These predict outcomes at Dickinson College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Dickinson College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Dickinson College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, International Business and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Dickinson College confers roughly 346 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $87,865 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Dickinson College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Dickinson College disclosed 23 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 10.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 16 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Dickinson College?

About 100% of undergraduates at Dickinson College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 8% of men join a fraternity and 24% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Pennsylvania parents ask about

• Gettysburg College
  39% acceptance
• Franklin and Marshall College
  28% acceptance
• Muhlenberg College
  72% acceptance
• Bucknell University
  29% acceptance
• Ursinus College
  92% acceptance
• Allegheny College
  55% acceptance
• Bryn Mawr College
  29% acceptance
• Duquesne University
  84% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Dickinson College